Caps recall Lepisto. ... again

The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Sami Lepisto from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.\
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Lepisto, 23, has played in 38 games for Hershey this year, posting 32 points (3 goals, 29 assists). He leads all Hershey defensemen in scoring and ranks tied for seventh among AHL defensemen in points. His +27 rating leads the AHL. Lepisto has a nine-game point-scoring streak with Hershey, recording two goals, 14 assists and a +14 rating in that time. He has 10 points in his last four games, including a goal and two assists last night at Lake Erie.\
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Lepisto was selected by the Capitals in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, 66th overall, and becomes the fourth member of the 2004 draft class on the Washington roster (joining Alex Ovechkin, Jeff Schultz and Mike Green, who were all taken in the first round). Lepisto spent four seasons in the top professional league in Finland before making the move to the United States to play for the Bears.\
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The 6-foot, 176-pound native of Espoo, Finland, has never played in a regular season NHL game. He was recalled to Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 12, but returned to Hershey after practice. He will wear No. 42 for the Capitals.